🇮🇩Indonesia
Seventeen thousand islands wearing every shade of green — Bali's temple-topped cliffs and rice terraces, and Java's royal city with the world's largest Buddhist monument up the road.
Cities
Temples on sea cliffs, surf that suits beginners, and a Hindu island culture that turns every morning into a small ceremony. This guide covers the southern beach belt — Kuta to Uluwatu; inland Ubud has its own guide.
Bali's green heart: rice terraces stepping down the valleys, a temple every hundred meters, monkeys with a crime syndicate, and more yoga mats per capita than anywhere on earth.
Java's cultural capital — a living sultanate with the world's largest Buddhist monument at sunrise distance, batik in every alley, and street food that costs pocket change. 'Jogja' to everyone who's been.
At a glance
How Indonesia’s cities compare. Rough 2026 figures.
| City | Cheap meal | Mid-range hotel | Transit ride | Avg. monthly salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇩 Bali | $1.50–3 | $40–90 | $1.50 | ≈ $250 |
| 🇮🇩 Ubud | $1.50–3 | $35–80 | $1.50 | ≈ $230 |
| 🇮🇩 Yogyakarta | $1–2.50 | $25–55 | $0.25 | ≈ $180 |
Head to head
Two cities side by side — costs, best months and what you'd do in each.